Bar video: Police not provoked

As they are moving, Powers crosses into the view of the camera aimed at the pool table. He stops to look in the direction of Mastrucci and Barry Gilfand. Another officer comes from behind and nudges him on toward the front of the bar.

About 30 seconds later, the confrontation begins as Matthews steps up to the pool table, still holding the gun, and sweeps a ball into a corner pocket while the victims are trying to play. As he's doing so, he appears to slide the gun into his waistband, covering it with his shirttail, and then puts a few other balls into pockets, brushing Barry Gilfand aside as he moves down the table.

Barry Gilfand and Lowrance raise their hands, appearing to protest. Over the next several seconds, the officers start moving around the table. Barnes moves toward Aaron Gilfand, who is facing the other way and appears to be talking to another group of people. From behind, Barnes suddenly grabs Aaron Gilfand and forces him to the floor. Powers quickly moves around the table and stands over Aaron Gilfand, who is just out of camera view.

A few seconds later, Barnes and another officer reach for Lowrance, grab him around the neck and force him over backward onto the pool table and then the floor. Lowrance is put in a headlock and hit several times while on the floor.

Half a minute later, Planey can be seen shoving Barry Gilfand toward the door. At about the same time, Mathews strikes Aaron Gilfand in the opposite corner of the room, near a cluster of video games.

Matthews is not charged in the case, but sources familiar with the case said a review of the evidence is ongoing.

Outside the bar, a camera shows Powers briefly pursuing Barry Gilfand up the street when they exit, but Planey restrained his fellow officer and ushered him back inside.

But as Planey was walking inside, a few seconds after 3:41 a.m., he glanced back at Gilfand on the sidewalk and saw that he was dialing his cell phone.

Planey walks rapidly up the sidewalk to Gilfand, takes his phone and hurls the man against the wall of the building, pinning him with a hand to the throat. The men then leave the view of the camera.

At exactly 3:42 a.m., Planey walks back into view by himself, pocketing what appears to be Barry Gilfand's cell phone. Gilfand claimed the phone was never returned to him.

The worst physical injuries suffered in the incident -- Aaron Gilfand's face was bloodied and his nose broken -- happened inside the vestibule at the bar's entrance. While no camera captured what went on there, a few seconds after 3:43 a.m., Aaron Gilfand sticks his head out of the vestibule looking in the direction of his brother, Barry. Barnes grabs him around the chest and forces him back inside the vestibule.

At that moment, an inside camera shows other bar patrons and staff members gathering around the front doorway, watching what transpired in the vestibule. One woman repeatedly puts her hand to her forehead, walks back and forth from the doorway, and starts placing a call on her cell phone.

----------

dheinzmann@tribune.com

- - -

Tribune exclusive: Jefferson Tap beatings

The Jefferson Tap and Grille security video system captured the incident on Dec. 15. The time-stamped video begins at 3:27 a.m. with Chicago Police Officers Paul Powers, Gregory Barnes and Vincent Matthews, Sgt. Jeffery Planey and two other officers huddled at a back table. The businessmen are shooting pool at the other end of the bar near the door.

TIMELINE OF TAPED EVENTS

3:33:29 Powers is on his feet with a gun tucked in the back waistband of his jeans.

3:34:49 Matthews takes the gun from Powers, partially concealing it under a jacket draped over his arm. He walks toward the businessmen at the pool table.

3:38:00 Remaining officers follow.

3:38:26 Matthews steps to the pool table and begins sweeping the balls into the pockets.

3:39:17 On the other side of the table, Barnes approaches Aaron Gilfand from behind, puts an arm around his neck and takes him down to the floor, falling out of camera view.

3:39:35 Officers grab Scott Lowrance and bend him backward over the pool table and then put him on the floor, hitting him in the head and chest.

3:41:22 Outside the bar, Planey hurls Barry Gilfand against the exterior wall of the bar, holding him by the throat.

3:43:04 Aaron Gilfand tries to exit the bar but is grabbed by Barnes and forced back into the vestibule, where he is allegedly beaten.